Any experience with a Whiting 40?

[Black Panther 1,497]

42 minutes ago, Luigi Vercotti said:

I'd be more inclined to go with the 1hp/ft rule. I have a 32ft over all 24ft waterline with 4 tonne displacement. I have a 3GM30 27hp. I couldn't imagine life with 16hp.

I had the same boat with 13hp. Never gave it a 2nd thought. Like I said there'll be lots of opinions on this one. 

[southernman 73]

On 31/08/2023 at 5:36 PM, Island Time said:

30 HP was common for these. Lots of 40 ftrs had 30's - incl many of the farr 1220's.

Island Time had the Volvo 2003, 28hp when I bought her. One day in Wellington in 45 knots I could not get into my berth directly to weather.  Cruising speed was about 6 knots. The Whiting 40 would be about the same weight and performance. Once I upgraded to the 2003T (Turbo version, 43 HP) cruising speed 6.5 - 7, approx. 8 at WOT.  Best economic speed was about 4.9 knots at 0.75ltrs/hour.

Now a VPD2 40hp 4 cyl. More torque and better performance, Cruise at about 7knots, and no problem pushing into a headwind!

Yeah my comments more about intended use.  30hp is fine for most of the time until it's not.  My first offshore boat was underpowered and it nearly meant we ened up on the rocks.  You will get away with 30hp no problems until you need the extra punch.  Case in point this season we pushed into 45 knots and tide to get the last 1 hour of a 4 day passage.  Certainly was very glad for the extra power to enable this with a tired crew, the constant squalls and rain and night approaching.  

I was not meaning to say 30hp is not a good option, more that if you are comparing boats of the same type and a bigger engine is avialable then take that option.  There is also nothing more frustrating than a small motor at higher RPM for a day on end when their is no wind. Of course there are real sailers out there that are happy to wait it out for wind, but not for me.  

Trust me you will also end up doing more sailing with a well sized engine, just removes the stress and you know you can get home into most weather!  

[harrytom 618]

The old boy had 10hp buck in a davo 28ft well under powered at maori rock in sw out going,had a 30hp fordson in 1/2 ton spencer 30ft never had a issue, yes to different weighted vessel 2 ft difference triple hp was comforting,hardly used it but good to know we could get home

[Ex Machina 340]

This topic reminds me of the time we nearly ended up on the rock wall behind the squadron inside the marina ….Y11 with an 18hp and 30 knot SW . 

[raz88 93]

On 3/09/2023 at 10:31 AM, Ex Machina said:

This topic reminds me of the time we nearly ended up on the rock wall behind the squadron inside the marina ….Y11 with an 18hp and 30 knot SW 

In contrast, we had an Elliott 10.5 with an 18hp, and it motored beautifully.  Very similar boat and probably the exact same engine (volvo 2002). Never had any issues like that and motored/maneuvered in plenty of bigger breezes than 30kn.

There was a y11 I know of that only had 13hp, on a shaft, and it was a bit gutless, but has so far survived over 40 years on that motor and been and done a lot of places/stuff.

There are a lot of variables here. Sail drives tend to be more efficient than shaft. Prop size, type and pitch. Is the engine operating properly etc.

To provide some reassurance to the OP, the beneteau first 40.7, of which there were 700 or so built, were 40 feet and sold standard with a 30hp (optional 40). If it was wildly under what was needed to drive the boat in a blow they'd be going on the rocks all over the world.

 

[K4309 145]

Spot on raz88, there are so many more elements to making a boat go than just motor size. All you need is a couple of barnacles on the prop and it will go like a sack of sh*t. That is assuming the prop is a well matched size and pitch for your motor and gearbox. The gearbox being relevant as your shaft speed is what makes the prop work, which is completely different to engine rpm.

Given the cost of propellers, esp fancy ones like the super-doper folding ones, how many people have put on a new fancy prop (folder) and found either the pitch or size wasn't quiet right, but sucked it up, or never got around to doing another haul out, getting the engineer / supplier down or paying the coin to change the prop to the correct pitch? esp when you've already had the prop hub machined to match the shaft taper and can't return it?

Not to mention just having a dirty bum on the boat. So yeah, there are loads of reasons a boat may not be able to motor off sea wall in a blow. I'd bet a bottle of whisky that the engine being too small accounts for only 10% of incidence. Poorly matched prop, dirty prop (barnacles) dirty bum would account for the rest I reckon.

[Ex Machina 340]

4 hours ago, raz88 said:

In contrast, we had an Elliott 10.5 with an 18hp, and it motored beautifully.  Very similar boat and probably the exact same engine (volvo 2002). Never had any issues like that and motored/maneuvered in plenty of bigger breezes than 30kn.

There was a y11 I know of that only had 13hp, on a shaft, and it was a bit gutless, but has so far survived over 40 years on that motor and been and done a lot of places/stuff.

There are a lot of variables here. Sail drives tend to be more efficient than shaft. Prop size, type and pitch. Is the engine operating properly etc.

To provide some reassurance to the OP, the beneteau first 40.7, of which there were 700 or so built, were 40 feet and sold standard with a 30hp (optional 40). If it was wildly under what was needed to drive the boat in a blow they'd be going on the rocks all over the world.

 

Yeah sorry It was the 13hp engine and it’s still pop popping 

[southernman 73]

20 hours ago, K4309 said:

Spot on raz88, there are so many more elements to making a boat go than just motor size. All you need is a couple of barnacles on the prop and it will go like a sack of sh*t. That is assuming the prop is a well matched size and pitch for your motor and gearbox. The gearbox being relevant as your shaft speed is what makes the prop work, which is completely different to engine rpm.

Given the cost of propellers, esp fancy ones like the super-doper folding ones, how many people have put on a new fancy prop (folder) and found either the pitch or size wasn't quiet right, but sucked it up, or never got around to doing another haul out, getting the engineer / supplier down or paying the coin to change the prop to the correct pitch? esp when you've already had the prop hub machined to match the shaft taper and can't return it?

Not to mention just having a dirty bum on the boat. So yeah, there are loads of reasons a boat may not be able to motor off sea wall in a blow. I'd bet a bottle of whisky that the engine being too small accounts for only 10% of incidence. Poorly matched prop, dirty prop (barnacles) dirty bum would account for the rest I reckon.

Good points made it's certainly not just HP but i'm just talking about the general intended use of the boat, Cat 1 up in the islands or further afield, not an Elliot on Auckland harbour.  Generally there is enough wind to sail most places.  The only times you need a reliable well powered engine are when you have no wind, anchoring or when in the sh*t.  The last one, you want to have a well powered vessel.  When it's dark and it starts blowing from the wrong direction and you have rocks behind you I can guarantee you will be thankful of having the right power behind you.  Having recently sailed around the top end of Australia, I can guarantee you a well powered engine is essential.  The tides and currents are huge.  

[raz88 93]

On 6/09/2023 at 2:40 PM, southernman said:

Good points made it's certainly not just HP but i'm just talking about the general intended use of the boat, Cat 1 up in the islands or further afield, not an Elliot on Auckland harbour.  Generally there is enough wind to sail most places.  The only times you need a reliable well powered engine are when you have no wind, anchoring or when in the sh*t.  The last one, you want to have a well powered vessel.  When it's dark and it starts blowing from the wrong direction and you have rocks behind you I can guarantee you will be thankful of having the right power behind you.  Having recently sailed around the top end of Australia, I can guarantee you a well powered engine is essential.  The tides and currents are huge.  

Funnily enough the Elliott I mentioned had started its life in Perth, and over 30 years been a fair number of places in between there and Auckland harbour with its trusty old 18hp engine...

Yes you want a boat to motor well, but a 30hp should be fine in a whiting 40, or at least worth not ruling it out without investigation.